What's the difference between boolean and Boolean in Java?

What's the difference between boolean and Boolean in Java?

In Java, boolean and Boolean are related types, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics:

  1. boolean:

    • boolean is a primitive data type in Java.
    • It represents a simple binary value, which can have only two possible states: true or false.
    • boolean is used for basic boolean logic and conditions, such as in if statements and while loops.
    • It does not have any methods or properties, as it's a primitive type.
    boolean isJavaFun = true; boolean isCodingChallenging = false;

  2. Boolean:

    • Boolean is a wrapper class for the boolean primitive type.
    • It's part of the Java standard library (java.lang) and allows you to work with boolean values as objects.
    • Boolean has two constant values: Boolean.TRUE and Boolean.FALSE, which represent the true and false primitive values.
    • It provides additional utility methods, such as toString(), valueOf(), and parseBoolean(), which can be useful for various operations.
    Boolean isJavaFun = Boolean.TRUE; Boolean isCodingChallenging = Boolean.FALSE;

Key Differences:

  • Type: boolean is a primitive data type, while Boolean is a wrapper class for boolean.

  • Value Range: boolean can only store true or false. Boolean, being an object, can also store null.

  • Immutability: boolean is a primitive, and its value is immutable (cannot be changed). Boolean objects are also immutable; once created, their value cannot be changed.

  • Methods and Properties: boolean has no methods or properties. Boolean provides utility methods and constants for working with boolean values.

  • Nullability: boolean cannot be set to null. Boolean can have a value of null.

  • Use Cases: Use boolean for simple boolean logic and conditions. Use Boolean when you need to work with boolean values in a more object-oriented way or when you need to represent null as a possible state.

In most cases, you'll use the boolean primitive type for basic boolean operations and conditions. Boolean is typically used when you need to work with boolean values in a more complex context, such as collections that require objects, or when you want to represent a three-state logic (true, false, or null).

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